God chose Saul because the Lord told Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles.
In Acts 9, the Lord directly stated that Saul was a chosen vessel unto Him, specifically to bear His name before the Gentiles. Les Feldick emphasizes that this calling was unheard of in Jewish culture and came after Israel rejected Christ, so God raised up one Jew—Saul of Tarsus—to carry the gospel to the Gentile world.
Acts 9:15 — This is the Lord's own answer to Ananias, declaring that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel.
The book of Acts records that Saul was traveling to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to bind those who called on the name of Jesus. Ananias told the Lord, "I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13). The Lord answered, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). God also said, "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:16). After his conversion, the record says, "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20). Scripture identifies the scope of Saul's calling: he was to carry the Lord's name to Gentiles, kings, and Israel. The text gives the reason as God's sovereign declaration that Saul was a chosen vessel.
Les Feldick points out that God's commission to Saul was "something unheard of in the Jewish culture." Although Israel knew the prophets had spoken of being a light to the Gentiles, that expectation did not apply to their generation; they had "the same mentality that Jonah had." Les explains that Israel missed its Old Testament calling to bring Gentiles to a knowledge of Jehovah, and after Israel rejected and crucified Christ, God did not stop. Instead of using the whole nation, God raised up one Jewish man—Saul of Tarsus, a renegade zealous for the law—and saved him by grace on the road to Damascus. The first thing God revealed through Ananias was that Saul would bear His name before the Gentiles. This was the first indication in Acts that God was bringing the Gentiles into the picture. Les also notes that Saul was saved on Gentile ground just outside Damascus, and that God would show him how much he must suffer for His name. Even so, Saul did not immediately understand the Gentile program; he first preached to Jews in the synagogues. But as Paul wrote, he repeatedly addresses "you Gentiles," confirming his role as the apostle of the Gentiles.
Ananias answered the Lord with what he had heard: Saul had done much evil to the saints at Jerusalem and had authority from the chief priests to bind all who called on the Lord's name. The Lord commanded, "Go thy way," and explained that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel. God also promised to show Saul how much he must suffer for His name's sake.
Les Feldick explains that the idea of going to the Gentiles was "unheard of" in Jewish culture. Although the Jews knew the prophets had spoken of Israel as a light to the Gentiles, they did not expect it in their generation. Les compares their attitude to Jonah's reluctance toward Nineveh.
Israel had missed its Old Testament calling to be priests bringing Gentiles to the knowledge of Jehovah. After Israel rejected and crucified Christ, God brought the gospel to the Gentiles without the nation by raising up one Jewish man, Saul of Tarsus. Les points out that Saul was saved by grace on Gentile ground, and the first thing God let him know was that he would be sent to the Gentiles.
No. After conversion, Saul went "straightway to preach Christ" in the synagogues—still Jew only. Les says Saul had no idea yet that God was going to go to the Gentile with a different program; all he knew was the Old Testament.
The Apostle of the Gentiles
Les introduces Acts 9 as the place to see why he calls Saul the apostle of the Gentiles, pointing to the turning point in Acts.
God's Direct Answer to Ananias
Les quotes Acts 9:13-15 and emphasizes that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear God's name before the Gentiles—something unheard of in Jewish culture.
One Jew Raised Up in Place of the Nation
Les explains that because Israel missed its calling, God raised up one Jew, Saul, to be the apostle to the Gentiles.
Go Thy Way: A Chosen Vessel
Les highlights God's command to Ananias to go, and the shocking commission to bear God's name before the Gentiles.
Gentiles Without Israel
Les says that after Israel's rejection of Christ, God brought the gospel to the Gentiles through Saul, who was revealed to Ananias as a chosen vessel to take the Word to the Gentiles.
Saved on Gentile Ground
Les shows that Saul was saved just outside Damascus, on Gentile ground, and that this was the first indication in Acts that God was bringing Gentiles into the picture.
A Call That Includes Suffering
Les notes that God would send Saul to Gentiles, kings, and Israel, and that God would show him how much he must suffer for His name.
Saul's Initial Jewish Focus
Les observes that right after conversion, Saul preached Christ in the synagogues and did not yet realize the Gentile program.
Acts 9:13: Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Ananias' fear shows why Saul's calling was so startling.
Acts 9:15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
God's direct explanation for choosing Saul as a messenger to the Gentiles.
Acts 9:16: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
God's calling for Saul also included suffering for the name of Christ.
Acts 9:20: And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Immediately after conversion, Saul preached in Jewish synagogues, showing he did not yet understand the full Gentile mission.
Scripture simply records God's sovereign declaration that Saul was "a chosen vessel" to bear His name before the Gentiles. Les describes Saul as a renegade, zealous for the law, saved purely by grace on the road to Damascus.
No. Scripture says he immediately preached Christ in the synagogues. Les explains that at that point Saul was still Jewish in focus and did not yet realize God would go to the Gentiles with a different program.
God told Ananias that Saul would bear His name before the Gentiles, and Les points out that Paul's letters repeatedly address "you Gentiles." This is why Les calls him the apostle of the Gentiles.
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